You hear so many people asking their friends, “What did you do for Christmas?” and, “How was your Christmas break?” Well this is Celia Glenn reporting and writing to you, the readers, about what our locals did or are going to do over Christmas.

Here’s what my family does for Christmas. Every Christmas Eve, we go to my aunt’s house for a gourmet brunch and to talk about what’s going on with each other and to wish everyone a merry Christmas, and to open gifts. Later one Christmas Eve night we will attend one of the candlelight Christmas Eve services at Grace Covenant Church. On Christmas Day my mom always video tapes us when we open “Santa’s” gifts. Right after that we always go to my mom’s side of the family in Virginia and repeat it all over again. Christmas for my family is a time for fun and spending it together.

Now to what some of the locals said about their family’s holiday traditions.

“To sit as a family and read the story of Jesus’ birth,” said Jacob Gordon.

“Eating all the delicious food around one huge table and everyone getting second platefuls of turkey and potatoes as a family!” said Miranda Cox.

“Watching Indiana Jones with my family on Christmas morning is always fun. Then eating breakfast,” said Savannah Garrett.

“Always opening the big presents under the tree first before the smaller one!” said Anna Lindley with a smile.

“In my family, we always open one present on Christmas Eve,” said Chris Phifer. “But sometimes it’s annoying because then you have to wait a whole other day until you can finish unwrapping all of the gifts.”

“My siblings and I sneak under our house alarm system during the middle of the night to eat the rest of “Santa’s” cookies and just to discuss possible gifts that are under the tree,” Rachel Homesley said.

“In my family, everyone buys new Christmas pajamas. Sometimes we make crazy hats like one time we made crazy Christmas hats for everyone. They were all the same design but different in colors and in their own way. It was really funny,” said Cassandra Plourde.

“In our family, we go to the Christmas Eve service at our church and then we go to my wife’s parents’ house and feast at like ten o’clock at night. It is so much fun. Then we open up presents from siblings to siblings. After that, we always watch The Christmas Story on TBS but we usually pick it up like halfway into the movie and then have to watch it over again,” said Pastor Jake Cordell.

“We always go to a movie as a family on Christmas day!” said Mary Katherine Harris. It’s really fun!”

I’m sure everybody has a favorite holiday tradition, what’s yours? You might have one and not even know it. Just take a minute to think about what you love most about the holiday season and how you spend it with your family to find your holiday tradition.